Tobit wordt blind door uitwerpselen van vogels 1543

"Tobit wordt blind door uitwerpselen van vogels" is an engraving of a biblical scene made by Georg Pencz in the 16th century. Pencz, a contemporary of the Reformation, presents a moment from the Book of Tobit, a story of faith, suffering, and healing. This depiction of Tobit's blindness invites us to consider the cultural and social interpretations of disability during the Reformation. As Tobit reclines, a woman gestures upwards in seeming disbelief at the birds, while another man looks at Tobit’s eyes. The composition has a theatrical quality and this dramatic scene makes me consider the vulnerability inherent in physical suffering. The historical context of religious reform adds another layer. Stories like Tobit's, which emphasize divine intervention, were subject to new scrutiny and interpretation. Through his work, Pencz not only illustrates a biblical narrative, but also participates in a broader dialogue about faith, reason, and the place of the miraculous in an age of transformation. In this way, the personal anguish of Tobit becomes a focal point for larger questions about belief and the human condition.